The Public Accounts Committee has referred three senior high schools and their officials to the Attorney-General’s Department for possible prosecution following procurement violations identified in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.
The schools involved—Breman Essikuma Technical Institute, Eguafo Senior High School, and Efutu Senior High School—were cited for failing to comply with established procurement procedures.
Speaking to Citi News on Tuesday, May 5, the Committee’s Ranking Member, Samuel Atta Mills, said the referrals were based on multiple irregularities uncovered during ongoing sittings in Takoradi in the Western Region.
He highlighted a case involving Eguafo Senior High School, where goods worth GH¢122,192 were procured from 19 vendors without any competitive bidding process.
Mr Atta Mills explained that procurement rules require institutions to obtain at least three bids before selecting a supplier, but many of the schools failed to follow this process, often choosing vendors directly.
He further alleged that in some instances, suppliers were only contacted to provide invoices to create the appearance of competition, even though decisions had already been made on preferred vendors.
The Committee stressed that strict compliance with procurement laws is essential, warning that violations undermine transparency, accountability, and value for money in public spending.
Source: 3news
